Fire-bucket.



P. BAAR.

FIRE BUCKET.

urmouxon FILED 0017,1910.

997 536 Patented July 11, 1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER BAAR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-BUCKET.

To all whom 'Ltmay concern:

Be itknown that I, PETER BAAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Im provement in Fire-Buckets, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to fire buckets, that is buckets which are stationed throughout buildings, vessels, trains, etc., in conspicuous and handy places and are filled with water or some prepared fire extinguishing liquid for instant use in case of fire.

In view of the fact that water and these other liquids evaporate more or less rapidly, it is necessary to frequently replenish the buckets and it is desirable that some significant means be provided to indicate or give a warning that the contents have become depleted to a greater or less extent, particularly since these buckets are usually placed upon a rack above the eye. It is further desirable that the bucket be kept covered so far as possible so that the water will evaporate less rapidly, and it is the object of my invention to provide means whereby these desirable features may be had and may be embodied in a simply constructed, inexpensive and effective device.

I further contemplate the provision of such indicating and covering mechanism in the way of a structural unit adapted for attachment to any standard sized bucket, so

that it is not necessary to manufacture an entirely reconstructed bucket in order that the advantages of my invention may be obtained. As will later appear, the con struction ofthe operative parts of my i11- vention is such that they are peculiarly adapted to embodiment in this kind of a structural unit.

Broadly, the device of my inventioncomprises a cover which carries a float adapted to be affected by the height of the water contained in the bucket with which it is associated, the operation being such that when the contents of the bucket become depleted, the cover, or at least a part thereof, will assume a significant position. More specifically, the indicating cover of my invention is in the form of a circular cover part, of approximately the same'size as a standard bucket, this cover part being Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 7, 1910.

Patented July 11, 1911.

Serial No. 585,761.

hinged or pivoted upon a diametrical axis. Upon one side of the axis the cover is provided with a float, and, as will appear, whenthe bucket is full, the buoyant effect of the water will be instrumental in raising the fioat and closing the cover.

I contemplate a modification wherein the cover is mounted directly upon the bucket so that a permanent attachment is secured, this arrangement requiring a more or less specially constructed bucket.

My invention is embodied in the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bucket above the eye, showing the cover part open; Fig. 2 is a vertical diametrical section of the bucket shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing, however, the modifications referred to.

Likereference characters are applied to the same parts throughout the various figures.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the body part of the bucket is vided witha bead portion 9 so that positive stopping engagement may be had with the top head 10 of the pail. The bead portion 9, to the left of the axis upon which the bail is pivoted (Fig. 2), is supplemented by the permanent cover part 11 which, as illustrated, covers half of the bucket. The indicating cover of my invention covers the other half of the bucket, as will be described. This indicating cover is mounted upon a rod 12 which extends diametrically across the top of the bucket parallel to the axis of the bail pivots and rests loosely upon the bead 9. From the right of this pivot rod 12 (Fig. 2) the cover portion 13 extends, this portion being of such size as to cover that half of the bucket and, in fact, to extend over the bead 9 to make a tight oint. Extending from the left of the rod 12 and dropped below the horizontal plane of the rod is the semi-circular drum 1 1 which, as shown in Fig. 2, may engage the under side of the permanent cover portion 11, the cover portion 13, in this position, closing the bucket. It will appear, therefore, that the indicating cover is hinged upon the axis of the rod 12, and that the drum 14 acts as a float subject to the buoyant effect of the contents of the bucket. When the bucket is full, as illustrated in Fi 2, the float 14 is brought up close to the under side of the permanent cover portion 11 and the movable cover portion 13 closes the remainder of the bucket. The float 14: is, of course, heavier than the portion 13 of the cover, and it is clear that as the contents of the bucket evaporate, the float will gradually lower, tending to assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This operation raises the portion 13 of the cover toward the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and that particularly illustrated in Fig. 1. When the cover is in this position it gives a significant warning that the contents of the vessel. are becoming exhausted and, as will appear from Fig. 1, this indication will be given even though the bucket be placed considerably above the eye.

As has been before stated, the ends of the rod 12 merely rest upon the bead portion 9, and it is clear therefore that the entire indicating cover may be quickly removed if such removal would be desirable when it is attempted to throw the contents of the bucket. It is further clear that if the indicator cover were removed and the hook 8 were also removed there will be nothing left but a bucket of ordinary construction, and it is evident therefore that my invention provides a structural unit for ready attachment to any standard bucket.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the rod 12 as permanently mounted in suitable openings provided in the keepers 5, 5, so that by this con struction the hoop 8 is not used and the indicating cover is applied directly to the structure of the pail. I11 this case the half of the bucket to one side of the rod 12 is provided with the inwardly extending flange 15 with which the float 1 1 cooperates to close the bucket. t will appear that the operation here is precisely as before, but that the float portion 14-. and the other portion 13 of the cover both act materially to close the bucket. In this form of my invention I pro vide the stop 16, in the convenient form of a rivet in the side of the pail, with which the part 14 may engage, as indicated in dotted lines. This prevents interference by the cover when the contents are thrown therefrom.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a bucket, a diametrically pivoted cover therefor, and a float on said cover on one side of the axis, the presence of the float making that side of the cover the heavier.

2. In combination, a bucket a diametrically pivoted cover therefor, an inwardly extending flange at the top of the bucket on one side of the pivotal axis, and a float on the under side of that half of the cover which engages with said flange.

3. In combination, a bucket, a diametrically pivoted cover, a float on said cover on one side of the axis, and means for limiting the oscillatory movement of said cover.

at. In combination, a bucket, a diametrically pivoted cover mounted upon said bucket, one half of said cover being in the form of a float, and an inward extension from the side of the bucket for limiting the upward movement of said float, the cover being closed when said float is at the upward limit of its movement.

5. In combination, a bucket, a diametrically pivoted cover therefor, the cover on one side of the axis being heavier than that on the other, and a float on said heavier side of said cover.

6. In combination, a bucket, a diametrically pivoted cover mounted upon said bucket, resting loosely thereon, and a float carried by said cover.

7. In a fire bucket, a bucket, keepers secured to diametrically opposite points on said bucket, a handle mounted in said keepers, a rod mounted in said keepers, a circular cover mounted on said rod, a float on one side of said circular cover, and an inwardly extending flange on the wall of said bucket with which the side of the cover having the float may engage.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 3rd day of October, A. D. 1910.

PETER BAAR.

Witnesses ARTHUR H. BOETTCI-IER, ALBERT G. MGCALEB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

